Cold Snap Threatens Gardens

Plant experts warn about the consequences of temperatures dropping to 28-degrees and staying there for several hours.

"That's when some plants can start getting damage so that's when you really want to take things seriously."

Quentyn Young is a master gardener and manager of the Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery in East Sacramento. Young says you should cover your outdoor plants, especially citrus and sub-tropicals.

On Capital Public Radio's Insight with Beth Ruyak today, he said the best is a "frost cover" which allows air and light to pass through.

"If you're in a pinch you certainly could use sheets, you could use towels, you could use blankets. Just keep in mind that if they're heavy that you want to try to take them off during the day if you can because you don't want to end up injuring the plant by having something on it that's too heavy."

Using a trash bag to cover plants is not ideal because the plastic can damage the plant when the temperatures get so cold.